SFH : SFH Behaviour Change Communication and mobilisation through drama

As a Social Marketing and Behavior Change Communication organization committed to positively influence the Rwandan people to choose healthier lives over unhealthy ones, SFH uses different community based entertaining and informative approaches such as drama to increase knowledge of HIV/Aids among the target audiences.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

As a Social Marketing and Behavior Change Communication organization committed to positively influence the Rwandan people to choose healthier lives over unhealthy ones, SFH uses different community based entertaining and informative approaches such as drama to increase knowledge of HIV/Aids among the target audiences.

In Rutsiro, according to SFH Regional Team Leader (Joe Rutayisire), community based approaches such as drama help to motivate and draw many people to the organisations’ mission in an expected and unexpected way to the extent that sometimes even the not interested ones find themselves immersed into the drama play.

SFH, in the regions it operates, has more often used drama plays for people to understand its messages on HIV/Aids because such drama plays are fun, engaging, and educational. For instance, in the drama session above, the first scene of the play starts off with a blame game between a woman (Maria—not real name) and her husband (Joseph—not real name), after he tested HIV positive yet her, negative.The wife is still optimistic about their marriage and suggests that they resort to consistent condom use, not to be infected too. 

The husband voices deep opposition to the idea saying: "We have been having sex without a condom for the last 16 years and we have not had any problem. Why should it be a concern now.” In reiteration, the wife convinces the husband to attend a village meeting organised by SFH (Society for Family Health) and CBO (Community Based Organisation) members for him to have the best answer of "why now” he obliges .At the meeting one of SFH-CBO member demonstrates how to use a condom and other key things to consider before use including looking out for the condom expiry dates among others.

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